2023 Tesla Model Y Performance

　　

Tesla Model Y Video Shorts

by zzdcar Test Team

　　

2023 Tesla Model Y Performance Review

byNick YekikianNews Editor

　　Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the News Editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.

　　The Tesla Model Y is an all-electric SUV and the fourth model in Tesla's lineup, slotting underneath the Model X and offering a more spacious (albeit more expensive) alternative to the Model 3 sedan. It's one of the most popular electric cars on the road thanks to excellent electric range, loads of in-car tech and swift acceleration, especially in the Performance trim.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Tesla Model Y EV Insights

Trim:Model Y Performance

　　Performance 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $52,490 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　263 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 224 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 120,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　11.8 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　Tesla SuperchargerProprietary Tesla charging standard. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$7,900

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$7,500

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of $3,750 or $7,500 depending on model eligibility for the purchase of a new plug-in electric vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. To be eligible: A vehicle must have undergone final assembly in North America (the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico). Critical mineral and battery component requirements determine credit amount. Maximum MSRP of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans. Income eligibility applies depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$65/mo

　　Model Y

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Official details for the 2023 Model Y will likely keep trickling in throughout the year. Unlike most other automakers, Tesla makes rolling updates to its vehicles rather than waiting for a brand-new model year to come around. Recent updates include pricing reductions and the introduction of an Enhanced Autopilot option that adds a variety of advanced driver assist features, such as automatic lane changes as well as self-parking and summon features, without having to pay for the full-boat Full Self-Driving upgrade.

　　Specific to the 2023 Tesla Model Y is the introduction of Tesla's so-called 4680 battery cells. The new 4680 cells are a complete overhaul of the battery tech inside Tesla's cars, and the company has been working on them for quite some time. There's a lot that goes into the new cells, but what matters to most consumers is that this battery technology promises lower costs, which Tesla could pass on to its customers. As of this publication, Tesla has dropped the price of the Model Y several times throughout the year.

　　The Y is undeniably the sales leader in its class, but that class is growing with new options. The Audi Q4 e-tron, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X and Volkswagen ID.4 are all models that you might also want to consider for your next electric SUV purchase. Check out the Expert Rating below to get our test team's full take on the Model Y's utility, comfort, real-world range and more.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Our test team lived with the Model Y and put it through its paces over thousands of miles and months of real-world use. Recurrent for all the details on how it held up over the duration of our test, how reliable it was, and what it's like to live with the Model Y.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the Model Y Performance drive? We tested the Model Y Performance. Our test car launched from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Stopping capability from 60 mph is equally impressive, and our test car stopped in just 108 feet. Both of those numbers are better than the stats of a lot of traditional sports cars, and the Y is certainly one of the quickest electric SUVs on the market.

　　Steering and handling are also laudable despite the Model Y's heavy weight. The steering feels light and responsive to any input and gives you a sense of control and connection through a corner. There's minimal body roll, especially for an SUV. In-town drivability is excellent. Seasoned EV drivers will appreciate the adjustable regenerative braking that allows you to drive nearly exclusively using just the right pedal.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Model Y Performance? The Model Y's cabin provides good comfort in some areas and disappoints in others. The seats are well padded and provide ample support, for example, and the seat heaters warm quickly. The climate control, like everything else, is touchscreen-operated. It can cool and heat the cabin well, but it has to work extra hard if the sun is out and beaming through the Y's expansive glass roof. You can remotely precondition the cabin before you get in, which is convenient.

　　The biggest drawback in comfort is ride quality. The Model Y Performance doesn't smooth out much in the way of bumps or road irregularities, and we suspect our test vehicle's large wheels and lowered sport suspension only worsened the issue. The grippier summer tires also generate a bit more noise, though that's a typical trade-off for the added performance. The regular Model Y Long Range will be a better choice if you want a smoother and quieter ride.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below